The durable hydrophobic and antibacterial polyester textile coatingwith ZnO/Zn(OH)2/starch/stearic acid composite

Herein, we prepare the antibacterial and hydrophobic polyester weaved textile using ammonium hydroxide (NH4 OH) hydrolysis and dip-coating method which can be fabricated zinc oxide (ZnO)/zinc hydroxide Zn(OH)2 )/starch/stearic acid (STA) composite on the textile surface. Phase identification, surface morphology, and chemistry of the composite were revealed by Raman spectroscopy and SEM/EDX techniques. The durable hydrophobic and antibacterial properties were investigated by water contact angle measuring, and against gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacterium as per the colony count method according to the AATCC 100 antibacterial test method. Raman spectrum result shows the modified polyester textile sample surface, not only ZnO crystallized in the hexagonal wurtzite structure but also Zn(OH)2 , starch, and STA composite is included. SEM images confirmed a smooth surface of the treated fibre before washing due to using STA as a second coating agent. Despite the composite being peeled out from the surface fibre after 5 washing cycles, the finished polyester woven textile is good durable water- repellent. Moreover, good durable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus strains after 20 washing cycles. The colour differences and the whiteness index of the treated polyester textile after 20 repeated washing were not significantly changed.